===TITLE=== UNIT 12: READING COMPREHENSION :: 12 QUESTIONS ===TIMER=== 20 ===PART=== 1. READING :: 12 :: 1 ===SECTION=== Passage 1 In today’s fast-changing world, making a career choice can be incredibly demanding. Because technology is advancing rapidly, jobs like being a software engineer or a mathematician are becoming highly well-paid and successful. These professionals require strong computer skills and a talent for solving problems. Since their daily tasks involve complex theoretical subjects, they must take their work seriously. However, not everyone wants to sit in front of a computer. Many young people prefer creative and active jobs. For instance, a fashion designer or a skillful tailor focuses on creating fashionable clothes. Although the fashion industry is highly competitive, having a true passion for it makes the hard work worthwhile. Similarly, a hairdresser at a busy hair salon needs to be patient and communicative. It is such a demanding job that workers often feel exhausted after standing all day. Although the salary might not always be as high as an engineer’s, the satisfaction of making customers happy is a great reward. Regardless of whether you choose a vocational college or an academic path, you must prepare well. Since the modern job market is so challenging that you cannot overestimate your abilities, acquiring a valid certificate and practical experience is absolutely essential to earn a living. ===MCQ=== 1. Why are software engineers and mathematicians becoming highly well-paid? *A. Because technology is advancing rapidly. B. Although they work in a hair salon. C. Since they make fashionable clothes. D. Because they are clumsy. Giải thích: Đoạn 1 ghi rõ: “Because technology is advancing rapidly, jobs like being a software engineer or a mathematician are becoming highly well-paid…” ===MCQ=== 2. What skills are required for a software engineer according to the passage? A. Hand-eye coordination and sewing. *B. Computer skills and problem-solving talents. C. Mixing drinks and selling tickets. D. Fixing cars and cutting hair. Giải thích: Đoạn 1 ghi: “These professionals require strong computer skills and a talent for solving problems.” ===MCQ=== 3. What is a key characteristic of a fashion designer’s job? A. It is entirely a theoretical subject. B. It is a stress-free and repetitive job. *C. It focuses on creating fashionable clothes. D. It requires a medical university degree. Giải thích: Đoạn 2 ghi: “For instance, a fashion designer… focuses on creating fashionable clothes.” ===MCQ=== 4. Why is being a hairdresser considered a demanding job? A. Because they have to deal with heavy traffic jams. B. Since they sit in front of a computer all day. C. Although they are highly paid software engineers. *D. Because they often feel exhausted from standing all day. Giải thích: Đoạn 2 ghi về thợ làm tóc: “It is such a demanding job that workers often feel exhausted after standing all day.” ===MCQ=== 5. What is the main advice given at the end of the passage? A. You should overestimate your abilities. B. You should put off getting a certificate. *C. You must prepare well and acquire practical experience. D. You must become a surgeon. Giải thích: Cuối đoạn 2 ghi: “…you must prepare well. …acquiring a valid certificate and practical experience is absolutely essential to earn a living.” ===MCQ=== 6. The phrase “such a demanding job that” means the job is: A. Very easy and relaxing. *B. Extremely challenging and requires a lot of effort. C. Completely theoretical. D. Only suitable for mathematicians. Giải thích: “demanding” mang nghĩa đòi hỏi khắt khe, áp lực cao, tương đương với “extremely challenging”. ===SECTION=== Passage 2 For some people, following a family tradition is the main reason for their career path. For example, John comes from a family of medical professionals. Because his father is a dentist and his mother is a surgeon, John always knew he would attend a medical university. The training course was so difficult that he almost wanted to put it off. However, since he possessed excellent hand-eye coordination and a calm personality, he was very suitable for the surgical team. On the other hand, Mary decided to break her family tradition. Although her parents wanted her to study business management, she insisted on becoming a bartender. She wanted a stress-free job where she could collaborate with different people every day. Because the salary of a bartender isn’t always high, she had to work as a cashier on the weekends to earn a living. It was such a busy schedule that she rarely had free time. Despite the traffic jams she faced commuting between jobs, she remained decisive and confident in her future job. She believes that as long as you are good at what you do, you will eventually achieve your goals and be successful. ===MCQ=== 7. Why did John decide to attend a medical university? A. Because he wanted to be a garment worker. *B. Because following the medical profession is a family tradition. C. Since he wanted to be a bartender. D. Although he hated theoretical subjects. Giải thích: Đoạn 1 ghi: “For some people, following a family tradition is the main reason… John comes from a family of medical professionals.” ===MCQ=== 8. What qualities made John suitable for the surgical team? A. He was a good ticket seller. B. He liked business management. *C. He had excellent hand-eye coordination and a calm personality. D. He had strong computer skills. Giải thích: Đoạn 1 ghi: “…since he possessed excellent hand-eye coordination and a calm personality, he was very suitable for the surgical team.” ===MCQ=== 9. What did Mary’s parents want her to study? *A. Business management. B. Fashion design. C. Mathematics. D. Mechanics. Giải thích: Đoạn 2 ghi: “Although her parents wanted her to study business management…” ===MCQ=== 10. Why did Mary have to work as a cashier on weekends? A. Because she loved repetitive tasks. *B. Because she wanted to earn extra money to earn a living. C. Since she wanted to be a surgeon. D. Although she was a well-paid software engineer. Giải thích: Đoạn 2 ghi: “Because the salary of a bartender isn’t always high, she had to work as a cashier on the weekends to earn a living.” ===MCQ=== 11. How did Mary feel about her future job despite her busy schedule? A. She felt painful and wanted to quit. *B. She was decisive and confident. C. She was completely indecisive. D. She wanted to put it off. Giải thích: Đoạn 2 ghi: “…she remained decisive and confident in her future job.” ===MCQ=== 12. The structure “such a busy schedule that” implies: A. Her schedule was very light and easy. B. Her schedule was moderately busy. *C. Her schedule was extremely packed, leaving her no free time. D. Her schedule was a theoretical subject. Giải thích: Lịch trình quá bận rộn đến nỗi (such a busy schedule that) cô ấy hiếm khi có thời gian rảnh -> Lịch trình cực kỳ dày đặc (packed).